Rotatable game board and piece therefor



' Jan. 25, 1949;

J. M. PRENTICE ET AL ROTATABLE GAME BOARD AND PIECE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 29, 1947 I INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 25, 1949 aoTA'rABLE GAME BOARD AND PIECE 'rnnnnron James .Prentice, South Hadley, James Robert Umbach, Longmcadow, and Kenwood Ross, Springfield, .M-assu assignors 'to The Electric Game Company, Holyoke, Mass, a corporation of Massachusctis Application November 29, 1947;Sfi1'i2flN0. 788, 940

.6 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to improvements in a game apparatus and is directed more particularly to the provision of a novel means wherein a playing board or surface of the conventional type is changed by the provision of spaced apertures therethrough which may be aligned with other spaced apertures in other playing means closely associated therewith whereby when the respective aperturesare brought into register with each other, playing pieces pi a unique :construction cooperate therewith to produce novel results. V

9: o the c imin l o le t o a invention s t sm de a sam a a a us whi h i u me oa d o er whi th playe s amo e l ying pieces.

One serious objection to :a majority of board games produced by game manufacturers during recent years has heenthat "they have been simply board games in the strict sense of that term. The combination of playing board, playing'pieces and chance means per :se is old and exhausted. The majority of such games have been variations of the old and well known basic principle of players :moving playing pieces progressively over a circuitous route designated upon the board, the moves being determined by throws of dice or similar means. This sameness among board games has been objectionable tram the point of view of the purchasing public, although "or functions just referred to.

W lhthe above in m nd. our in e i p o a ew an s r tu al y dif e t pe of playing board wherein the elements of susse a d rise M e ei e i t o uced so as to result in a fascinat ng entertainment for the players, is

It is n t lc objec '-su. inven i to a e vide a game apparatus that is economical its manufacture and .is simple in its-operation so s o m e it a att act e asv essibl o the g st e cen age cf t e ea in ub ic.-

It i st l ,tnother Dbj the n ention o id an rran emen o! ar s p r m new and unusual functions when inlassociation with each other due to their respective structures. .Such is designed. to lend interest therein and to create an exciting and thrilling game in which the players experience the amusement and-excitement of a race with each other toward an objective, complete with unexpected eventualities along the wamafl of which affords a wholesome and interesting amusement.

It is a still further object .of .our invention to provide a construction which exercises the mind in observation and calculation.

Still another object .is to produce a game apparatus adapted .ior any numberoi peoplelor p yers more h n one wher y a a e equ l y interesting to a small or greater number of players is provided. v 1

.Itiis a further object to produce .a game means simulating a race over a route where the important factors of speed, interference and mishaps resulting are imitated through the intro-.- duction of the chance controlling elements, the movable members being moved over a playing surface which has certain changeable characteristics all of which enable the players to progress rapidly or slowly as they may elect while at the same time exposing them to the loss of points due to the actual loss of certain playing pieces as a result of the construction of the apparatus itself. I a

With the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of our i v n on a wi l e o more a r n a th description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as .will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully dc.- scribed and referred to in connection vitl the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the game board com.- prising part of the apparatus of our invention; Fig. '2 is a sectional view of the a paratus of our invention along the line 22 of Big. ;1;

.Fig. 3 is a plan .view of the varying member of our invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the principal playing pieces of our invention Rig. 5 is a side elevational view of the playing piece shown in .Fig. 4; w

Fig. Sis a side elevational view of one -of the secondary playing pieces of our invention;

Fig. 7 is aside .elevational View of one of the principal playing pieces of our invention shown in operating association with a pair of secondary playing pieces and the game board and the varying means of our invention which are partially shown in cross sect on: and

Fig. 8 is a perspect ve view of a chance means for se in playing the game.

Referring now to t e draw ngs more in detail, the inventi n will be fullv described.

By sett ng forth the various com onent pieces of the game first the ame can thereupon be more easi y described in detail.

Our im roved game apparatus contemp ates the employment of a board or playing surface of any suitable material and it compr ses a boardlike member ID having a substant ally flat unper supporting surface. The board [8 is supported by a frame I2 by any conventional means and which surrounds the edges thereof as shown in Fig. 1. The board is held at a distance from the base or a horizontal sup ort such as a table surface or the like, upon which the frame 12 rests. as shown in Fig. 2, all for purposes presently to be descr bed.

A playing path 20 on the board In con ists of a plurality of suitably arran ed adjacent y-d sposed outlined and marked-off spaces or areas '22 which. when followed progressively from a starting point 24 continuously through to a finishing point 26, follow a. winding circuitous route over the surface of the board substantially as shown in Fig. 1 so that a playing piece is adapted to be moved in accordance with predetermined rules as the game progresses.

At various points along this path 20, spaces 22 are provided with apertures 30 which form sight openings. These openings are centered along predetermined arcs struck from the midpoint of the board.

The apertures are shown as circular in outline but it is to be understood that an aperture of any shape, as for example a square hole, may serve equally as well.

At another distance from the midpoint of the board Hl, an opening 32 in the form of a slotted arc is provided through the member ID. The opening is of such width as to be adapted to receive therethrou h the tip of the finger of a player and it is of such length as to enable the player to move his finger forwardly and rearwardly there n for a distance, all for purposes shortly to be described.

At still another distance from the midpoint of the board Ill, a window 34 is provided which may consist mere y of sight opening extending through the member ill for purposes shortly to be described.

A varying member is provided which consists of a circular rotatable disc of any suitable material although cardboard is preferable. This disc is adapted to be turned or spun periodically at predetermined intervals throughout the game.

The member 40 is provided on one surface with a plurality of distinctively colored areas designated by 42, 44 and 46 which show the colors red, yellow and green respectively. These areas are colored differently for purposes as will presently be seen.

The member 40 is adapted to underlie the member ID and the same are secured in pivotal relation to each other by means of a rivet H or similar device which secures the member W at its midpoint to the member 40 at its central point 49. If desired, the member 40 may be mounted on a shaft extending vertically through the center of the game board where a spinning knob at the upper end thereof may be employed by the players to thereby impart a turning movement to the member 40. When the members l8 and 48 are thus engaged, as is shown in Fig. 2, member 40 may be manually rotated relative to the member ID b inserting the finger through the opening 32 in the member I 0 and through one of the openings 52 in the member 40 directly therebelow. The finger is allowed to traverse the length of the arc in either direction.

Also dispersed over the surface of the member 4!) are a plurality of apertures 48 which are of the same dimension as the apertures 30 in the member ID. Similarly, these openings are centered along predetermined arcs struck from the midpoint of the member 10, said arcs corresponding to the arcs in the member It! so that openings 48 may be brought into alignment with openings 30 the same being located equal distances from the respective midpoints of the members and ill, as the member 40 is rotated relative to the member ID.

Around a central point 49 of the member 48 and along a certain circle struck therefrom are provided a plurality of spots 50 which are numbered in a haphazard manner from 1 to 6 substantially as shown. The circle along which the spots 50 are disposed underlies the window 34 of member [0 so that the different spots 50 may be viewed through the window 34 as the member 46 is rotated relative to the member ill. Along another circle around the central point 49, a series of evenly spaced finger engaging apertures 52 are provided in member 40 for purposes hereina-fter to be described. The circle along which the apertures 52 are disposed underlies the opening 32 of member Ill so that different apertures may be manually engaged through the opening 32 whereby the member 40 is rotated relative to the member I0.

Various areas of the member 40 have different designating colors as shown. These colors are visible through the apertures and same are determined by the position in which the rotatable member 40 comes to a stop. By staggering the colored areas, it will be noted that upon each movement of the member 40, the combinations of the colored areas showing through the apertures are varied. Therefore, since the position in which the member 40 will come to a stop is uncertain during actual play, there is introduced into the game an element of chance that will determine the degree of success which the players may or may not enjoy.

A plurality of principal playing pieces such as is shown in Fig. 4 are provided. When the game is played there is one for each player and each one is of a different color so as to make it easily identifiable.

The principal playing piece 60 consists of a circular member having an inset portion around its lower periphery so as to form a shoulder 62 and a neck portion 64. The neck portion 64 is of such dimension as to be snugly receivable in the aperture 30 of the member ID.

Extending longitudinally through each member 60 are a plurality of openings 65.

The openings 65 are arranged so that when the member 60 is disposed in an aperture 30 of the member ID and when an opening 48 in the member 40 is so rotated that the openings are in alignment or register, entrance may be made from the uppermost portion of the member 60 through the openings 65 and through the apertures 30 and 48 in the members Ill and 40 respectively. As will be presently seen, it is possible to reach theaunderside of the game board from the topside bymeans of the aforesaid arrangement and as will be appreciated it is possible to make objects disappear by falling through as a result of the operation of this feature of our invention.

A plurality of secondary playing pieceslllsuch as is shown in Fig. 6 are provided. When the game is played, various quantities thereof may be called into use and there is an equalnumber of red, yellow and green ones provided.

Preferably there are as many principal playing pieces as there are players and ea'ch player in the game uses .one such playing piece, Preferably there are more secondary playing pieces as there are principal playing pieces as more .of the latter may conceivably be associated with the former during the .courseof the game.

While various means maybe employed to determine the degree of movement, chance means, such as dice 88, may be used to determine the extent of movement of the playing pieces Bu -over the board 88. That is to say, the players turn throw the dice Bi! and may move their respective members iii] over the spaces 22 accordingly.

The method of playing the game may now he explained as by such explanation the various functions of the several components therje'otwill be more clearly understood. a 5

The principal playing pieces are distributed among the players, each player using a difierently colored piece. Any number of people more than one can play the game.

The players move one at a time in succession and continue thusly until the game is completed.

Each player then determines, as by the chance means, the extent of his movement of his playing piece over the surface of the board each time it is his turn to move. A player in time may land on one of the spaces containing an opening at whereupon the neck of the playing piece 60 is inserted snugly into the aperture.

A system of values is agreed upon where by virtue of the color in the member 40 showing through the opening 39 which the player lands on, the color or value of the secondary playing piece which he may insert into one of the openings of the principal playing piece is determined. For example, by landing on an aperture having the color red showing therethrough, the player is entitled to insert a red secondary playing piece through an opening 64 of his member 60.

By another system agreed upon, the member 40 may be rotated relative to the member ID whereby the colors through the various apertures are changed so as to lend variety to the game; One system for determining when and the extent to which the member 40 may be rotated is to rule that the member will be rotated only upon the throw of doubles with the dice. When double sixes are thrown, for example, the member 40 is rotated until the number 6 appears through the opening 34 in the member to.

In the process of rotating the member 40, apertures 48 may be brought into alignment with apertures 30. If such be the case and if there are secondary playing pieces fitted within the primary playing pieces which are located over openings 30, the secondary playing pieces automatically fall downwardly through the openings 48 and are lost for the duration of the game.

The object of the game is to tour the circuitous path with the principal playing piece and to acquire as many secondary playing pieces therealong as possible. The one arriving at the finish- Ting point with the greatest number of valued playing pieces wins the game.

':Obviously the game is designed toemploy the element of chance. .A player must be induced to 5 assume a risk in order :to acquire the coveted secondary playing pieces. That risk is 'jeopardized :by the threat that in that process, he may lose the same as a result of the rotation of the warying'means 4U.

-Th'e invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essen- Ioharacteri'stics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merel :as being illustrative and not as 3 beimga'estrictive, the scope of the invention being indicatedi-by the appended claims rather than by the ioregoin'g description, :and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and punviewiand range of equivalency of the appended 120 claims are tl'iere'fore :intended to be embraced merein' What :it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A game :a-pparatus comprising, .a horizontal game :board haying a playing path delineated thereon and having apertures therethrough, a plurality iof principal playing pieces for movewent around the path of said game board hav- .ingineck portions adapted for seating in the aper- 30 tures in said game board and having openings ex-' tending longitudinally therethrough, a plurality of secondary playing pieces receivable in the openings in said principal playing pieces and movable downwardly therethrough.

2. A game apparatus comprising, a horizontal game board having a playing path delineated thereon and having apertures therethrough, a principal playing piece for movement around the path of'said game board having a neck porto tion adapted for seating in the apertures in said game board and having an opening extending therethrough and a secondary playing piece receivable in the opening in said principal playing piece and movable downwardly therethrough.

5 3. A game apparatus comprising, a horizontal game board having a playing path delineated thereon and having apertures therethrough, a principal playing piece for movement around the path of said game board having a neck portion :50 adapted for seating in the apertures in said game board and having an opening extending therethrough, a secondary playing piece receivable in the opening in said principal playing piece and movable downwardly therethrough and a movably mounted member beneath said game board having apertures therethrough with certain of the apertures being registrable with certain of the apertures of said game board as said movably mounted member is moved relative to said game board.

4. A game apparatus comprising, a horizontal game board having a playing path delineated thereon and having apertures therethrough, a principal playing piece for movement around the path of said game board having a neci: portion adapted for seating in the apertures in said game board and having an opening extending therethrough, a secondary playing piece receivable in the opening in said principal playing piece and movable downwardly therethrough, and a mov ably mounted member beneath said game board having apertures therethrough with certain of the apertures being registrable with certain of the apertures of said game board as said movably mounted member is moved relative to said game board, all adapted and arranged whereby said secondary playing piece disposed in said principal playing piece may be permitted to pass downwardly therethrough and through the registered apertures of said game board and said movably mounted member.

5. A game apparatus comprising, a horizontal game board having a playing path delineated thereon and having apertures therethrough, a plurality of principal playing pieces for movement around the path of said game board having openings extending longitudinally therethrough and adapted to overlie the apertures in said game board, a plurality of secondary playing pieces receivable in the openings in said principal playing pieces and movable downwardly therethrough and through the apertures in said game board when said principal playing pieces overlie the apertures in said game board, 'a rotatably mounted member beneath said game board having apertures therethrough with certain of the apertures being registrable with certain of the apertures of said game board as said member is rotated relative to said game board.

6. A game apparatus comprising, a horizontal game board having a playing path delineated thereon and having apertures therethrough, a plurality of principal playing pieces for movement around the path of said game board havas said member is rotated relative to said game board, all adapted and arranged whereby said principal playing pieces may overlie the apertures in said game board and said secondary playing pieces disposed in said principal playing pieces may be permitted to pass downwardly there- ;through and through the registered apertures of and said member.

JAMES M. PRENTICE. JAMES ROBERT UlVEBACI-I. KENWOOD ROSS.

REFERENCES CITED said'game board The following references are of record in the idle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,755,730 Gosser Apr. 22, 1930 2,219,546 Petersen Oct. 29, 1940 2,237,707 Lazenby Apr. 8, 1941 

